Dr. Tricia Penniecook studied Medicine and Public Health in Montemorelos University, Mexico. She worked for five years in her country of origin, Costa Rica, in the Ministry of Health as County Health Director, State Epidemiologist, State Health Director and Adviser to the Minister of Health for the Atlantic Region. She later returned to her Alma Mater to coordinate the Master’s in Public Health programs, and to infect medical students with her passion for public health. A little over two years ago she was invited to join LLU’s School of Public Health as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; her most important challenge has been coordinating the self-study process in preparation for the school’s accreditation. She is the happy wife of Richard Blanco, Business Manager for the Office of Public Health Practice, and proud mother of Richard Tyrell and Anthony Arnoldo. Her professional passions are infectious disease epidemiology, access to health services and integration of faith in the teaching and learning of health sciences.